Health Care
The federal government wants to give women easier access to the contraceptive pill by making it available, without a prescription, over the counter at the local chemist.
Hooray for that, says anyone who’s ever waited in a fit of frustration just to get an appointment to see their doctor when a script runs out.
But the new legislation, that’s been kicked about since last July, has ruffled some feathers among the medical profession.
Continue reading "Forget over the counter, give us the pill for free" »
I recently took myself to a medical clinic that bulk-billed. I didn’t go there because they bulk-billed. I went because the clinic was walking distance from my office building. I needed to get tested for Helicobacter pylori. Here’s what happened:
GP: You can take the test home, do it yourself and bring it back to be sent to the lab. (No further instructions so I leave and I attempt to pick up the test from reception.)
Medical Receptionist: No, you do the test here, but after two hours of fasting, water is allowed.
(I return after two hours of fasting, having drunk a glass of water during that time.)
Centre Manager: Actually you need to have fasted for 6 hours, nil water, but it should be OK.
Continue reading "Medicareless: Our two-tier, second-rate health system" »
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MK says:
I tend to Agree, you were being a WORSE patient, you knew your family history, but chose not to tell the doctor (not your regular docotor) and make a point about them not asking your family history, “Hi, my name is X i have a family hisotyr of stomach cancer,… Read more »
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marley says:
@Steve - perhaps I misunderstood your point, or perhaps you misunderstood mine. My point was that public health care is not necessarily more expensive or less efficient than private. You can’t compare the cost of private health care available 30 or 40 years ago with what it costs today -… Read more »
Structural reform of Australian healthcare financing can cut inequity and promote universal choice as well as universal service delivery.
In a society as wealthy as ours it’s understandable that Australians support universal access to healthcare.
But accepting this principle and the current one-size-fits-all structure of Medicare are different. Under the current structure only those who can voluntarily afford to opt out of the system have real choice.
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helen says:
Dear Australian Public, Australia’s political class is regarded in some sectors of the global community as the Stupid, Selfish White Men Syndrome” as Rudd’s daughter clearly indicated on A.b.c The Drum’s. Think tanks serve a purpose… Read more »
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ji says:
nanny state= Gangsta capiitalism Read more »
The trouble with Labor’s health plan is that it is not a plan.
The fact is that Mr Rudd’s health offer to the states is just a series of isolated funding announcements, unsubstantiated, unconnected, and incomplete.
The trade off for giving up 30% of the GST, the growth tax that is mandated to the states, is yet another series of grants dependant on the whim of the Federal government, and does not translate into sound policy to deliver better care for individuals.
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Chris says:
An unnamed person calling a talkback radio station threw out a conspiracy theory about the Commu-I mean Unions stealing money, therefore it is true. Kill Labor. Well done Ms. Bishop, you are insane. Read more »
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persephone says:
Saskia lodge a complaint at the link provided above. It’s against the law to pay a worker less than they were getting on January 1, full stop. Read more »
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